Thirty Years' War in pictures

In addition to the timeline of the Thirty Years' War the following 8 pictures show political events and scenes of daily grind in the war-torn countries of the Thirty Years' War.

Defenestration of Prague

The protestants of Bohemia feared that the new emperor of Germany Ferdinand II could cut their religious rights. In May 1618 an assembly of Protestants forced their way into Prague castle. After a short disputation they threw the 2 imperial governors Martinitz and Slavata and their secretary Fabricius out of a window. They fell 21 meter off the ground and survived, because the inclined wall slowed their fall down into a rubbish heap. The defenestration of Prague marked the beginning of the first phase of the Thirty Years' War.

Execution of Protestant leaders

27 Protestant leaders of the Bohemian revolt had been executed in Prague 1621 after the Protestants suffered a destructive defeat in the battle of Weißen Berg. The convicted leaders were executed following their social standing: 3 civics have been hanged, the nobles killed by the sword. Rataplan accompanied the executions to prevent the convicted to talk to the crowd. The chipped heads of the most important leaders were hanged to the bridge tower, where they remained for 10 years until Saxon troops removed them. With the rebellion collapsed, a widespread confiscation of property and suppression of the Bohemian nobility followed.


The sack of Magdeburg

In November 1630 Johann Tserclaes, Count of Tilly laid with his imperial army siege to Magdeburg. The town had strong fortification and the defenders hoped that Swedish king Gustav Adolf would come with relief forces to raise the siege. But the king didn't come. In May 1631 Tillys soldiers broke the lines of defense and stormed the town. Of 25.000 residents and 2500 soldiers 20.000 people died. Large parts of the once rich city were burned to the ground. It was the bloodiest day in the whole history of the war.


Marauders

To feed armies with tens of thousands of soldiers was quite a challenge. In the areas where they camped or marched through the armies confiscated huge amounts of food. Often so much, that nothing was left for the population and people starved to death. In contemporary sources those armies were referred to as marching cities. But the mercenaries didn't only take food. Bands of marauders robbed, raped and murdered their way through the German lands. Violence spread the country, aimed not against an armed enemy but a defenseless population. The picture shows the inside of a farmhouse invaded by a dozen marauders, stealing food, raping, torturing and killing the residents.

Hangman's tree

In trying to get the atrocities against civilians under control, officers ordered to hang those mercenaries found guilty. The picture shows regiments standing in file right and left of the hangman's tree. The soldiers had to watch the executions as a deterrent.


Revenge of the peasants

Sometimes peasants took revenge. The picture shows peasants who ambush a military column and kill the soldiers with scythes, spears, clubs and flails. They rob the belongings of the mercenaries and tear the clothes from the dead ones.


Assassination of Wallenstein

In February 1634 Albrecht von Wallenstein, former supreme commander of the armies of the Habsburg Emperor Ferdinand II was assassinated in Eger, a town in todays Czech republic. The picture shows captain Walter Deveroux storming at Wallenstein who, it seems, was surprised during his nighttime work.


Battle of Prague

In autumn 1648 the Swedish field marshal Christian von Königsmarck laid siege to Prague. In the end he was only able to conquer a part of Prague called Kleinseite. The old town was held by strong-willed defenders. The battle ended on the 2nd November when the message of the peace agreement reached the attackers. The battle of Prague was the last one in the Thirty Years' War.

Information taken from Herfried Münkler, Der Dreißigjährige Krieg. Europäische Katastrophe, deutsches Trauma 1618-1648. A standard work which I recommend to everyone who reads German and is interested in the Thirty Years' War.